I arrived in Denver Oct 5, 2015. I came to Colorado from Connecticut for personal reasons. After a few days in a motel I was running out of money. My apartment in Idaho Springs would not be ready until Nov 3. So I ended up staying at Holy Rosary Women’s Shelter of Samaritan House for three weeks.
    This was a new experience for me as I had always had my own apartments in CT. 
    The staff for the most part were supportive. I did have trouble the third day with one young man.
    They had a trailer where belongings were stored overnight, but had to be out in the morning. My belongings were too great for me to carry around all day and, as I am somewhat physically disabled, it would have been impossible for me to go anywhere with them. I told the young man I would have to sit outside the property on the sidewalk all day so as to not have my stuff stolen. He finally came up with a solution: store my stuff at a public storage facility a few blocks away. So this I did which depleted my funds considerably.
    So here I am new to Colorado. No idea what to do all day. We are awakened at 5am and after breakfast have to leave by 7am not to return until 5:30 pm. A woman at the shelter told me about The Gathering Place but, how to get there. I finally found my way to St. Francis, where I spoke to a social worker. He was very helpful. I finally got a Colorado ID and bus passes and directions to The Gathering Place to get a shower and a lunch.
    At Samaritan House there were frequent arguments between women and staff. Verbal abuse by staff. I felt like I was not a human being. The men who worked in exchange for their shelter treated us like we were animals. Dirty Animals.
    This place has a sign opposite the offices that states that the women would be expected to come up with a plan to 

      1) find a job,
      2) save money, and 
      3) get an apartment of their own.

    This is a farce. Many of the women had various types of mental illness and would be unable to live on their own. Other women were only interested in obtaining drugs and spending their days in an altered state of being. A few I saw on the 16th St Mall with signs begging for money. A sad few were pregnant. What kind of life would these children have?
    After three weeks I found myself more disabled than when I got to Denver. My feet hurt 24/7. I already suffer from chronic pain in my back, knees and ankle.
    I am fortunate that my stay was only temporary and the weather was mostly agreeable. I am now in my apartment in Idaho Springs.
    Shelter Life is NO LIFE. It’s just shuffling from point A to point B all day every day.

    September 25, 2015 -- Ok so I’m back. After being off the street since April the couple who I left with left me stuck with the rent alone and isolated. I ended up with a flaky roommate who put me out. I moved next door with my oldest daughter who invited her friend to join us--her and her baby. She was a spoiled brat who would throw a hissy fit every time I did something. I took off.
    My blood pressure wasn't stable so I'm on two blood pressure pills, Vitamin D and water pills-- and Ibuprofen for my hip. My hip--there was no arthritis in it thank God. Most of my family is gone … there are a few left and some new ones. My oldest is planning on getting me into assisted living where I will be happy, safe, and stable.
    My ex supposedly passed away but I'm not sure about that. I heard he is on his way back from Minnesota. If he comes back.
    November 6-- _I’ve been back about one month. I have four more daughters and four more sons added on to the family. They are all very dear to my heart. I saw some of the old crew. One lives with his girlfriend. Another has a house and a great job. Another has left the state altogether. Two of them are still in Denver. One of my girls went home, has a house and a good job, and sees her son on a regular basis. The total number of grandkids coming is 43.
    Unfortunately my sister and brother are leaving at the end of this week. They need to start their lives and they will be missed by me and everybody else very much. 
    My health is good and I go back to the hospital in December for a checkup and blood work. So we’ll see what happens.
    The girls are resting right now, which gives me a chance to sit and write this. I’m still busy as ever with the family, and it’s a wonderful feeling.
    Will I have another man in my life? We will see. He will have to be pretty special to get me. My son once said I deserve the best and he’s right--I do.
    It’s 5am and I’m the only one up in the CHUM program [where about 20 women sleep in a different church each night]. The rest are sound asleep. So a new day begins for me. I’ll go back to St Francis and see what progresses.
    As for the girl with the baby Karma will get her.
    So my story continues. Hopefully I will be off the street by November with what I need. My disability hopefully will come through.